SOLAR-ENERGY CONVERSION BY CHLOROPLAST PHOTOELECTROCHEMICAL CELLS

[[abstract]]Solar energy can be captured by photochemical or photoelectric processes in which a gradient of chemical potential can be generated using photochemical redox reactions. Photosynthesis is the most efficient system for quantum conversion and storage of solar energy1. Various biomimetic systems have been constructed as models for the conversion of light to electrical energy2−11. These biological photoelectrochemical cells have utilized macrocrystalline chlorophyll a (Chl a)2, chlorophyll liquid crystals deposited on the electrodes3−5 or incorporated into filters6, bilayer lipid membranes7, chloroplast membranes8, chloroplasts9 and bacterial reaction centres10,11. The power conversion efficiencies are mostly very low (Near 0.002%). We describe here a chloroplast photoelectrochemical cell which generates large photovoltage and photocurrent, and has a power conversion efficiency close to 1%.[[fileno]]2050111010038[[department]]生科